Permits available for Lake County picnic shelters

Permits are available for Lake County Forest Preserve District picnic shelter usage in 2012.

Permits opened Oct. 17 for the district’s 30 shelters, located throughout the county.

Picnickers can apply for permits in person at the district’s new general offices, 1899 W. Winchester Road, Libertyville; on the district’s website, lcfpd.org; and by phone, (847) 367-6640.

Permit fees for the shelters are based on group size and event date. Prices begin at $50 for Lake County residents and from $100 for nonresidents.

Accommodations for groups of 700 or more are arranged on an individual, contractual basis.

Any group wishing to reserve a picnic shelter is required to purchase a permit, as are any groups of 25 or more, regardless of whether a shelter is used.

Picnic shelters are available at 10 Lake County Forest Preserve locations: Fox River Preserve and Marina in Lake Barrington, Grant Woods in Fox Lake, Greenbelt near Waukegan and North Chicago, Half Day in Vernon Hills, Heron Creek in Long Grove, Lakewood in Wauconda, Nippersink in Round Lake, Old School in Libertyville, Van Patten Woods in Wadsworth and Independence Grove in Libertyville.

Lake County Forest Preserve picnic shelters are popular locations for baptisms, family reunions, wedding receptions, company picnics and other special events.

Most Lake County Forest Preserve picnic shelters offer electricity, water, toilets and at least one permanent grill. Many have playgrounds, sports fields and trails nearby.